International Money Transfer

January 29, 2013 5:04 PM

I would like to transfer $ 5000 from an account in Italy to my bank account here in the State. Can it be done electronically and if so, how?
posted by francesca too to Work & Money (6 answers total)

Best answer: Does your bank in Italy have a website? For my German bank account, I could set up wire transfers to my US account online, and did not have to authorize anything in person.
posted by that possible maker of pork sausages at 6:17 PM on January 29, 2013

Best answer: I send my Italian bank a signed fax (I know, how quaint!) with all the transfer information (account number to and from, receiving bank IBAN and SWIFT codes, etc) and they wire it over.
posted by lydhre at 6:31 PM on January 29, 2013

Best answer: You can arrange an international wire transfer. As others have said you may have to fax confirmation to your bank in Italy. You'll need your account number, bank name and address and routing number. It's pretty easy to arrange just contact the bank you want the money sent from. Last time I did it it cost me around AUD$75 to transfer AUD$50K plus taking a hit with a shitty exchange rate to US$.
posted by wwax at 7:44 PM on January 29, 2013

Best answer: I've used Currencyfair in the past. At the time, the exchange rate and $4 transfer fee (yes, really), came out to be a little cheaper than XE Trade and Xoom.com. And definitely MUCH cheaper than a wire transfer.
posted by Xere at 9:13 PM on January 29, 2013 [1 favorite]

Best answer: When setting up an international wire, I would check with my bank to make sure about the routing number specifying that it's an international wire. Some US banks route their international wires thru an intermediary.
posted by readery at 5:51 AM on January 30, 2013

Response by poster: Thanks. I think I will investigate the exchange rate before doing anything.
posted by francesca too at 2:09 PM on January 30, 2013